Sound device fob fluid boilers



' Nov. 22, 1938. M. MUELLER 2,137,805

SOUND DEVICE FOR FLUID BOILERS Filed Jam 27. 1938 INVENTOR Max Mueller ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This Ainvention relates to new and useful imn provements in a sound device for assisting in preventing heated fluids from boiling over.

More specifically the invention proposes the construction of a sound device having a bottom hollow face and engageable into a saucepan or other cooking dish or pot, and beneath which some of the iluid being heated may pass so as to reach the boiling point before the remainder of the fluid in the saucepan, to cause the sound device to be raised by the accumulated steam of fthe liquid boiling there-beneath so that it will drop back to its normal position after the steam escapes to cause a succession of rapid knockingalarm noises as it hits the bottom.

Still further it is proposed to construct the sound device with hollows of different Compasses in the faces thereof, for controlling the amount of time necessary before the sound device is set into operation by the escaping steam.

Still further it is proposed to construct the sound device from an outer annular section and a central disc section adjustably mounted within the outer annular section for increasing or decreasing the compass of the hollow portions formed therein.

`For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference `will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In'the Aaccompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sound device constructed according to this invention,

Fig. 2 is a View taken through the center of the saucepan showing the manner in which the sound device is to be used.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of a modification of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of a still further modication of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 6.

The sound device for preventing heated fluids from boiling over, according to this invention, consists of a shallow body Ill for location in a container II in which a fluid I2 is to be heated, and said body is adapted to rest freely on and extend across the bottom IIa of the saucepan, or

pot II. The shallow body Il] has a shallow'bottom 4face I3 beneath which some of the fluid I2 is adapted to collect. The body I0 has a passage I 4 in one of its sides connecting the compass beneath the hollow bottom face I3 with 5 the exterior through which the fluid I2 may pass. Thus upon heating the receptacle III through the bottom IIa thereof the fluid I2 beneath the body Ifwill start boiling before the remaining fluid within the container II, and rattle the body Il! 10 to emit a warning sound.

The shallow body I0 may be constructed of hard material such as china, composition, metal, etc. Its top face is also provided with a hollow I5 having a compass of different capacity than 15 that of the bottom hollow I3. A passage I6 connects the hollow I5 with the exterior of the hollow body -I-makinglitlpossible vto rest the hollow body I6 on the bottom IIa of the container II with either face downwards and still permit 20 the fluid I2 to pass therebeneath.

The operation of the device is as followsr When it is desired to heat fluids the hollow body IG is rested within a container or pot II with either the hollow I3 or the hollow I5 ad- 25 jacent the bottom IIa thereof. Then the container II is filled with the desired amount of fluid to be heated and a portion thereof will pass through the openings I4 or I6 to connect with either the hollow I3 or the hollow I5, depending 3c upon which one is adjacent the bottom Ila. Then when heat is applied to the bottom IIa, the fluid I2 located within the hollow resting adjacent the bottom, will reach the boiling point before the remaining fluid I2 within the con- 35 tainer II.

As the fluid within the hollow body reaches the boiling point the steam created by the boiling fluid will attempt to escape and rush toward the opening connecting the hollow body with the remaining area of the container II. As this steam attempts to pass through the opening it will slightly lift the hollow body from the bottom IIa. When the steam escapes the hollow body will again drop back to its normal position causing it to knock against the bottom I la. As the boiling continues the rising and falling of the hollow body I0 will become more rapid until it reaches a point Where it becomes a continuous rattle.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the hollow body Ill is constructed of a slightly different shape than shown in the foregoing figures. The portion of the hollow body Ill between the hollows I3 and I5 has a concave top surface and a convexed bottom surface to increase the compass of the top hollow I5 and decrease the compass of the bottom hollow I3. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form.

According to the modificationshown in Figs. 5-7, the hollow body I0 is constructed of separate sections consisting of an outer annular section Illa and a central disc section I0b. The periphery of the central disc section Illb is formed with a groove I1, and a resilient wire ring I8 extends around the periphery of the central disc section IIIb and partially into the groove I'I. The inner wall of the outer annular section I0 is provided with a number of grooves I9. The wire I8 is adapted to engage one of the grooves I9 for holding the central disc section II)h in various adjusted positions with relation to the top and bottom edge portions of the outer annular section Illa. The wire I8 has its ends I8i spaced away from each other forming a space 2D therebetween which permits these ends to be urged together when the center disc section 10b is being moved from one groove I9 to another groove I9.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:-

When it is desired to increase or decrease the compass of either the top hollow I5 or the bottom hollow I3 it is merely necessary to move the central disc section II)b either upwards or downwards for increasing or decreasing the desired hollow. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous forms.

The openings I4 and I6 may be of any suitable size and shape, i. e. rectangular, round, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A sound device for indicating that the boiling point of a heated fluid has been reached, comprising a shallow body for location in a container in which a fluid is to be heated and adapted to rest freely on and extend across the bottom thereof, and having a hollow bottom face beneath which some of said fluid is capable of collecting, and said body having a passage connecting the compass beneath said bottom face with the exterior thereof through which said fluid may pass, whereby upon heating of the receptacle through the bottom thereof the fluid beneath said body will start boiling before other parts and rattle said body to make a warning sound, said body comprising an outer annular section and a central disc section vertically adjustably mounted thereon.

2. A sound device for indicating that the boiling point of a heated fluid has been reached, comprising a shallow body for location in a container in which a fluid is to be heated and adapted to rest freely on and extend across the bottom thereof, and having a hollow bottom face beneath which some of said fluid is capable of collecting, and said body having a passage connecting the compass beneath said bottom face with the exterior thereof through which said fluid may pass, whereby upon heating of the receptacle through the bottom thereof, the fluid beneath said body will start boiling before other parts and rattle said body to make a warning sound, said body comprising an outer annular section and a central disc section, and means for vertically adjustably mounting said central disc section within said outer annular section.

3. A sound device for indicating that the boiling point of a heated fluid has been reached,

ycomprising a shallow body for location in a container in which a fluid is to be heated and adapted to rest freely on and extend across the bottom thereof, and having a hollow bottom face beneath which some of said fluid is capable of collecting, and said body having a passage connecting the compass beneath said bottom face with the exterior thereof through which said fluid may pass, whereby upon heating of the receptacle through the bottom thereof the fluid beneath said body will start boiling before other parts and rattle said body to make a warning sound, said body comprising an outer annular section and a central disc section, and means for vertically adjustably mounting said central disc section within said outer annular section, comprising an annular ring engagingaround the periphery of said central disc section and partially into a groove formed therein, said ring being adapted to engage one of a plurality of grooves formed in the adjacent inner face of said outer annular portion for holding said disc section in its adjusted positions.

MAX MUELLER. 

